Shopping Fast: August Report

Note: I started my self-imposed shopping ban on January 1, 2014. I made it official online through this post, and called it a “shopping fast.” I also shared there the reasons why I took the challenge and laid down some rules to guide me while on it.

Hello, September! I can’t believe I’m just three months away from finishing this no-shopping challenge! 🙂

I don’t have much to say except this, “oops I did it again!” Haha. Sorry friends, I’m just so happy while writing this post I even want to cry! Not to sound melodramatic, but, I really feel (a bit) proud of myself for having banned shopping since January 2014.

Last month, I was able to resist shopping again and I didn’t have a hard time doing it. I focused on just appreciating every nice item I saw in the mall as I walked past the shops there. That was all I did. And of course, applying some level of discipline. Also, I think I got preoccupied in improving the state of our finances and learning more about growing our money that the thought of shopping didn’t enter my mind at all. So you see, shifting my mind’s focus from one thing to another proved to be a wise move for me.

As for the acquisition thing, I did receive some new stuff from a dear friend when she visited me two weekends ago. Maybe this was the universe’s way of rewarding my efforts. Or I just got lucky. Whatever that meant, I was thankful for the blessing. I’ll just think of what I’ll do with my excesses when I become more serious about adopting a minimalist lifestyle (now that sounds exciting!).

I hope this month of September will again be as easy peasy as the past months have been. I’ll definitely find out next month.

11 Replies to “Shopping Fast: August Report”

Gusto ko rin eto. For years, I’ve been struggling with lessening my purchases and detaching myself from material things; of course the latter is a bit harder, being a hoarder and a pack rat. Are there any tips that you can give me aside from the obvious, ie, not purchasing? How can I deal with the “itch” to buy?

I think what drives me not to shop, aside from being able to save money which could help our finances greatly, is my new perspective when it comes to material things. They don’t appeal so much to me now as they did before. I dunno, it must be because I’m trying to live a simple life now. I also realized I still have many stuff at home that are left untouched, some of them I had even completely forgotten about. I’m using them one by one now and giving them the attention they deserve. I still get the “itch” to buy nice stuff every now and then, but I just ignore it and remind myself to take it slow and be happy and content with what I have at present. I guess we just tend to forget that we already have enough material things (sometimes even more than enough!) that acquiring new ones isn’t really necessary. 🙂

Thanks, Gladys! As a mom of two cute girls, you would really find it hard not to shop especially if it’s for them. But I also admire you for living a simple life and for getting full value for your money when you shop at Goodwill and other spend-less type of stores. 🙂

I missed your 2 recent blogpost kala ko hindi ka na nag blog hehehe. I am so amazed Edel that you can control your innate shopping soul hehehehe. You are couple of months away and surely, you can do it. =)